Cai Lun: Innovator of Paper

The provided episode focuses on Cai Lun, a Chinese eunuch official of the Eastern Han dynasty, known primarily for his pivotal improvements to papermaking. The episode meticulously details his life and career, including his early court service, involvement in palace intrigue, and his highly significant innovation in 105 CE of using materials like tree bark, hemp waste, and fishnets to create paper suitable for widespread use. Furthermore, the episode explores his legacy, including his global influence on communication, his deification as the god of papermaking in China, and the various historical sources used to construct his biography, acknowledging that earlier forms of paper existed before his contributions.